A crucial safe haven for mothers in need: the Swiss Mothers of Elne. Breastfeeding women in the maternity hospital, with a small Swiss flag discreetly placed in the background. the experience of motherhood. Some pregnancies were the result of rape, and the resulting psychological damage made the work of helping the women even harder. Many women were extremely weak by the time they arrived at the maternity hospital and some had young, sick children with them, making it very difficult for them to breastfeed. Gestures of solidarity abounded, and many babies ended up being saved by mothers other than their own breastfeeding them. Once the mothers had recovered, they had to return to the camps. Elisabeth Eidenbenz nonetheless strove to rescue as many women and children as possible from this fate, by finding them jobs either in the Château or in another branch of Swiss Aid. At Easter 1944, the Gestapo ordered the maternity hospital to evacuate within three days, and the establishment was permanently closed. Awards Elisabeth Eidenbenz received numerous awards, including recognition as Righteous Among the Nations by the State of Israel in 2002, the Gold Cross of the Orden Civil de la Solidaridad Social from the Spanish government in 2006, the Creu de Sant Jordi from the Catalan government in 2006 and the Légion d’Honneur from the French government in 2007. Elisabeth dedicated all her awards to Lucie, a Jewish woman who had suffered a stillbirth but who stayed at the maternity hospital to breastfeed children whose mothers were too weak to do so themselves. Lucie was arrested by the Gestapo in 1943. Until now Switzerland has scarcely given any recognition to Eidenbenz. Despite the fact that she looked after and took in so many women in need, without regard for their origin or their faith, her story is still largely unknown and she has as yet received no awards from her own country. During the final years of her life, Elisabeth lived with a female friend in Austria. She returned to Zurich to live in 2008 and died there in 2011. The current status of the hospital site The historic site, which has been converted into a museum and was listed as a historic monument in 2013, is unfortunately in need of financial support. According to Nicolas Garcia, mayor of Elne, it needs renovations to the tune of four million euros. Assistance from Switzerland appears essential if this place of remembrance is to be preserved and the site is to be restored, says Garcia. 29 Swiss Review / October 2025 / No.4
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